Fifteenth Avenue Upgrade – Do It Once, Do It Right
Liverpool City Council is advocating for an alternative design for the $1.4 billion Fifteenth Avenue upgrade, aiming to avoid the demolition of 90 homes and save approximately $1 billion in future costs compared to the State Government's proposal. The "Do it Once, Do it Right" campaign calls for a redesign that includes dedicated bus lanes, connection to the Western Sydney International Airport and protects local homes
Liverpool City Council has assessed the cost of an alternative design for the Fifteenth Avenue transit corridor. Our objective is to deliver the vital transport links our growing region needs without demolishing local homes or wasting public funds. We believe in building infrastructure once, properly, rather than forcing local families to pay the price.
We believe Fifteenth Avenue should be built once, built properly and designed for the future.
Background
Fifteenth Avenue connects Liverpool, Austral, Bradfield and Western Sydney International Airport. It is a city-shaping corridor and one of the most important east-west links in South West Sydney.
Funding commitment
In 2025 the NSW and Commonwealth Governments committed $1 billion in joint funding for the upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue.
In 2026 an additional $400 million was committed, with the Commonwealth and NSW Governments each contributing $200 million, bringing total project funding to $1.4 billion.
This funding was welcomed by Council and the community as a long-awaited step forward.
It promised to deliver the corridor’s original intent, including improved capacity, airport connectivity and long-term network resilience.
Proposed Transport for NSW Plan
The plan put forward by Transport for NSW on public exhibition represents a scaled-back outcome. It:
- Reduces the corridor to four lanes
- Excludes bus lanes in stage one
- Designed for trucks as an 80km/h freight corridor
Council’s Long-Term Plan
Liverpool City Council commissioned an independent technical assessment of an alternative design, consistent with the one envisaged by the FAST Corridor plan it has long advocated for.
The comprehensive assessment of this plan confirms that an additional $239 million, a 17% uplift in funding, would deliver:
- A six-lane corridor
- Integration of public transport
- Dedicated walking and cycling infrastructure
Council’s plan vs. State Government's plan
The two proposals offer different futures for the Austral and Liverpool communities. Council's long-term option meets community needs.
Key differences
Feature | Council's plan | State Government's plan |
Connection to the airport | Delivered | Not included |
Family homes | Up to 90 saved | Up to 90 lost |
Cost to get it right | ~$1 billion lower | ~$1 billion higher |
Future proofing | Built once properly | Widen again |
Dedicated bus lanes | 2 lanes (one each way) | Future stage only |
What our community needs:
- Delivery of three lanes in each direction.
- Dedicated high-capacity public transport lanes.
- Safe walking and cycling infrastructure.
- Future-proof bridges over the Upper Canal and Kemps Creek.
- Upgraded intersections to handle future demand.
- Confirmation of a staged connection to Bradfield and the Airport.
- Fair protection of the corridor, without trapping landowners in planning limbo.
- Proper consultation with affected residents, landowners and Council.
Why this matters
- A car-only solution will not solve a transport problem.
- You cannot approve thousands of homes, then provide yesterday’s road network.
- A 17% uplift now may prevent a much bigger bill later.
- The worst outcome is spending billions, then returning years later to rip it up and widen it again.
- Fifteenth Avenue is where housing policy meets infrastructure reality.
- Austral must not become another growth area where families move in first and infrastructure arrives last.
How you can help
We need to ensure the corridor is built the right way. Use your voice to protect local families and stop unnecessary demolitions.
1. Email your Local MP Send a direct letter to your local Member of Parliament stating that these 90 homes are worth protecting. |
2. Come to a resident drop-in session: Council is hosting two community drop-in sessions Tuesday 25 August | 9am-12noon @ West Hoxton Town Centre Wednesday 2 September | 6-8pm @ Club Austral 165 Edmondson Ave, Austral |
The plan put forward by Transport for NSW on public exhibition represents a scaled-back outcome. It:
- Reduces the corridor to four lanes
- Does not provide a direct connection to the Airport
- Excludes bus lanes in stage one
Council welcomes the funding. The issue is making sure the funding delivers the right project. A modest uplift now could avoid far greater costs, disruption and congestion later.
The purpose is to avoid long terms delays by making the right decisions now. The worst outcome is delivering a project that has to be widened or retrofitted soon after completion. Council’s alternative long-term plan will delay the current project by a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months.
Austral has low public transport use because the infrastructure is not there. If transit is deferred, the community will grow around car dependency first, making the problem harder and more expensive to reverse.
By eliminating the need to acquire and demolish 90 residential properties and avoiding the massive civil costs associated with future corridor widening.